It all started with Breaking: The Musical, a parody inspired by Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn and her viral performance at the Paris Olympics. Gunn’s routine, which included a memorable kangaroo dance, quickly became an internet sensation, sparking countless memes and mockery. Comedian Steph Broadbridge, who created and starred in the show, was ready to bring it to life, hoping to debut it in Sydney before taking it on the road.

However, things took an unexpected turn when Gunn’s legal team stepped in, sending a cease-and-desist letter that claimed Broadbridge couldn’t use the kangaroo dance because it was trademarked by Gunn. Broadbridge responded on social media that she’s willing to make changes so the show can move forward, but not at the expense of art.

Following the legal action, Broadbridge updated her followers on Instagram, announcing that the musical had been rebranded as Breaking: The Musical. The tagline? “A completely legal parody musical.” The new poster features the silhouette of a kangaroo in Gunn’s signature pose. In a recent update on Instagram, Raygun confirmed that her legal team had agreed with Broadbridge, allowing the musical to move forward. “We’ve managed to come to an agreement. You know, she still gets to go ahead with the musical; she’s got a new name, new poster, and she still has to take that shot on the road. ,” Gunn said.

Raygun also confirmed that there had been speculation that she sought a $10,000 payment for the use of her name, but she denied these reports. “We have not sought any costs from all this, so there’s a lot of talk around this $10,000 that was from really early on… My lawyers were acting on my behalf. They sent out letters and, you know, they asked for a response by a certain time,” Gunn clarified in a  video. “You would have seen that she (Steph Broadbridge) issued an apology today, and she corrected or addressed some of the misinformation and some of the hurtful commentary that’s been going around. So, you know, I really appreciate that she’s done that.”

As the situation was resolved, Raygun added that she wasn’t pursuing any legal fees and was content with how things had turned out. “I really appreciate the support,” she said, urging everyone to move on and look ahead to 2025. The musical will continue its tour, and Gunn is now focused on a positive future, free from the legal drama. But what exactly did she do on the Olympic stage that led to memes and her retirement?

Why Was Rachael Gunn’s Olympic Performance So Controversial?

As a 37-year-old breakdancer, Raygun had earned her spot in the first-ever Olympic breakdancing competition, representing Australia. However, her performance became a viral sensation for its bizarre and unorthodox moves. Her routine, which featured kangaroo hops and imitating a sprinkler, completely failed to impress the judges and left her with a score of zero points in all three of her round-robin battles.

This stunning lack of points, combined with her unfashionable green tracksuit, made Gunn the subject of ridicule. Memes and parodies of her performance spread like wildfire across social media, and late-night talk shows picked up the story, often mocking her in their routines. Many online commentators accused her of being “excruciatingly bad on purpose,” further fueling the negative attention. But despite the viral mockery, Gunn found herself at the center of a media storm, with her performance becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the Olympics, though not for the reasons she had hoped.

Alongside the mockery, conspiracy theories began to swirl around how Raygun, an Australian university lecturer, had even made it to the Olympic stage. A petition accusing her of manipulating the qualification process to earn her spot garnered 50,000 signatures before it was removed by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) at their request. Despite the AOC refuting the claims, the rumors left Gunn feeling powerless and upset, as she had little control over how the public perceived her.

However, even with the negativity surrounding her Olympic performance, Gunn’s story didn’t end there. She continued to dance but decided to retire from competition, acknowledging the emotional toll the backlash had taken on her. Despite the ridicule she faced in Paris, the WDSF issued a statement explaining their choice, citing her talent and achievements. Gunn had the last laugh, proving that there’s more to her than the viral moment in Paris. Now retired from competition, Raygun has shifted her focus to enjoying dance in her personal life!